Snap-on edge connector system
An electrical connection system can include a first member including one or more spring pins, located within a rigid frame. After assembling the spring pins into the rigid frame of the first member, the frame can be overmolded creating an electrical connector at the end of a cable. The second member of the system can include one or more contact pads located within a rigid frame. After assembling the contact pads into the rigid frame of the second member, the frame can be overmolded creating an electrical connector at the end of a cable. The rigid frame of the first member can be located within the rigid frame of the second member to align the spring pins with the contact pads. Retention features in he rigid frame of the first member can allow gripping the edge of a device or protective case into which the second member is mounted.
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This application claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 62/110,389 filed on Jan. 30, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis disclosure relates to an electrical connector system, for example, for connecting power and data circuits for electronic devices.
BACKGROUNDA convenient, attractive, and functional electrical connection is generally needed and desirable on electronic devices. Such connectors can be used to provide mains power or data connections or both. For handheld devices, it may be desirable for the cable-side portion of such connector systems to retain to the edge of the device or enclosure to which it attaches. For handheld devices, it may be desirable for the device-side portion of such connector systems to be generally flush to the edge of the device, so that they do not collect lint and debris in small crevices, and not include any protuberance which may be uncomfortable in the hand.
SUMMARYThis disclosure relates to an electrical connector system, for example, for connecting power and data circuits for electronic devices. The connector system described herein combines a frame-and-overmold construction with spring-pin and pad contacts. The removable portion of the connection (typically disposed at the end of a cable) includes retention features that allow it to grip the edge of the device into which the mating connector is mounted.
A first member of the system can include one or more swing pins, located within a rigid frame. After assembly of the spring pins into the rigid frame of the first member, the frame can be overmolded to create an electrical connector at the end of a cable. A second member of the system can include one or more contact pads located within a rigid frame. After assembly of the contact pads into the rigid frame of the second member, the frame can be overmolded to create an electrical connector at the end of a cable. The rigid frame of the first member can include features to locate (i.e., position) it relative to features within the rigid frame of the second member so that the spring pins in the first member align with the contact pads of the second member. The rigid frame of the first member can further include one or more retention features which allow it to grip the edge of a device or protective case into which the second member is mounted.
In an exemplary implementation, an electrical connection system may include a first member having a first rigid frame into which one or more spring pins are assembled and subsequently overmolded. The first rigid frame has first locating features that locate to a second rigid frame of a second member, and first mating features that extend over the front and rear surfaces of and grip the edge of, a device housing. The electrical connection system further may include a second member having a second rigid frame into which one or more contact pads are assembled and subsequently overmolded. The second rigid frame has second locating features that locate to the first rigid frame of the first member. The overmold of the second member includes features, such as screw mounts, which allow the second member to be fixedly mounted within the device housing. The electrical connection system further may have one or more retention features, such as a groove or recess, incorporated into the device housing and configured to be gripped by the first rigid frame of the first member, whereby the first member is retained to an edge of the device housing.
The device housing may be the external housing of an electronic device, or it may be a protective or secure housing for a tablet computer or mobile phone.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThis disclosure relates to an electrical connector system, for example, for connecting power and data circuits for electronic devices. The connector system described herein combines a frame-and-overmold construction with spring-pin and pad contacts. The frame portion of the connectors can be injection molded from hard plastic, such as ABS. Into this frame, electrical contacts, such as spring pins (e.g., for the external connector) or flat contact pads (e.g., for the internal connector) can be disposed, with highly repeatable spacing and positioning. That is, because the frame is injection-molded, the spacing of the holes for the pins is easily repeatable (made the same every time) because it is controlled by the injection molding tool. This repeatability reduces the positioning error of pins relative to the alignment features (which are in the same tool) and, in turn, from one side of the mated connection to the other.
To assemble the connector, wires (which can be gathered and sheathed into a cable) are electrically connected (by soldering or crimping) to the electrical contacts, which are then inserted into a rigid frame. This assembly is then overmolded with an elastomeric overmolding compound, such as PVC. Both the internal (fixed) and external (removable) members of the connection system are constructed in this manner. In addition to channels for inserting the electrical contacts, the molded frames can incorporate features by which they align to each other, guaranteeing easy and proper alignment of the electrical contacts.
The removable (i.e., external) portion of the connector assembly (typically disposed at the end of a cable) includes external-side retention features that allow it to grip the edge of the device into which the mating connector is mounted. While the fixed-side (i.e., internal) portion of the connector assembly has alignment features that are incorporated into the frame portion of the internal connector, the retention features on the fixed-side portion are not part of the internal connector but rather are on the housing of the device itself. Thus, the frame of the external connector grips the edge of the device housing, rather than the internal (fixed) connector, as is conventional. This connector architecture allows for a better user experience when attaching and removing the connector, as the action is one of “clipping on” rather than “plugging in” and “peeling off” rather than “unplugging”. “Clipping on” and “peeling off” involve less manual dexterity and careful alignment than plugging operations, and can thus be preferred by some customers who may have less manual dexterity or who wish to complete the operation faster.
As shown in cross-section A-A, the frame 101 roughly approximates the letter “c” and has a flat top portion joined at a right angle to an arcuate bottom portion having a ridge, or snap, at a distal end. The bottom portion can also be flat instead of arcuate. Engagement of the snap feature with a recess in the surface of the device housing thus acts to clamp the mated connection together.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. An electrical connection system comprising:
- a first member comprising: a first rigid frame, one or more spring pins assembled and subsequently overmolded into the first rigid frame, first locating features included in the first rigid frame, the first rigid frame and the first locating features formed as a single piece, and first mating features that extend over a front surface and a rear surface of, and grip an edge of, a device housing;
- a second member comprising: a second rigid frame into which the first locating features of the first member locate, one or more contact pads assembled and subsequently overmolded into the second rigid frame, second locating features included in the second rigid frame, wherein an overmold of the second member includes features which allow the second member to be fixedly mounted within the device housing; and
- one or more retention features incorporated into the device housing and configured to be gripped by the first rigid frame of the first member, whereby the first member is retained to an edge of the device housing.
2. The electrical connection system of claim 1, wherein the device housing is the external housing of an electronic device.
3. The electrical connection system of claim 1, wherein the device housing is a protective or secure housing for a tablet computer or mobile phone.
4. The electrical connection system of claim 1, wherein the features which allow the second member to be fixedly mounted within the device housing comprise screw mounts.
5. The electrical connection system of claim 1, wherein the one or more retention features comprise a groove or a recess.
6. The electrical connection system of claim 1, wherein the first mating features that extends over the front surface and the rear surface comprise a projection configured to mate with one of the one or more retention features incorporated into the device housing.
7. The electrical connection system of claim 6, wherein the projection extends across a portion of the first member.
8. The electrical connection system of claim 1, wherein the first member comprises:
- a flat top portion configured to extend over the front surface of the device housing; and
- a bottom portion configured to extend over the rear surface of the device housing, the flat top portion jointed at a right angle to the bottom portion.
9. The electrical connection system of claim 8, wherein the bottom portion is arcuate.
10. The electrical connection system of claim 8, wherein the bottom portion comprises a snap feature at a distal end of the bottom portion, the snap feature configured to engage a recess in the rear surface of the device housing.
11. The electrical connection system of claim 1, wherein the first mating features are non-articulating relative to the first rigid frame.
12. An electrical connection system comprising:
- a first member configured to attach to an outer surface of a device housing, the first member comprising: a first rigid frame, one or more spring pins assembled and overmolded into the first rigid frame, a plurality of first locating features included in the first rigid frame, and a plurality of first mating features that extend over a front surface and a rear surface of, and grip an edge of, a device housing, the first rigid frame and the plurality of first mating features formed as a single piece; and
- a second member configured to attach to an inner surface of the device housing and to the first member, the second member comprising: a second rigid frame into which the first locating features of the first member locate, one or more contact pads assembled and subsequently overmolded into the second rigid frame, a plurality of second locating features included in the second rigid frame.
13. The electrical connection system of claim 12, further comprising one or more retention features incorporated into the device housing and configured to be gripped by the first rigid frame of the first member, whereby the first member is retained to an edge of the device housing.
14. The electrical connection system of claim 13, wherein the first mating features that extends over the front surface and the rear surface comprise a projection configured to mate with one of the one or more retention features incorporated into the device housing.
15. The electrical connection system of claim 14, wherein the projection extends across a portion of the first member.
16. The electrical connection system of claim 12, wherein an overmold of the second member includes features which allow the second member to be fixedly mounted within the device housing.
17. The electrical connection system of claim 12, wherein the first member comprises:
- a flat top portion configured to extend over the front surface of the device housing; and
- a bottom portion configured to extend over the rear surface of the device housing, the flat top portion jointed at a right angle to the bottom portion.
18. The electrical connection system of claim 17, wherein the bottom portion is arcuate.
19. The electrical connection system of claim 17, wherein the bottom portion comprises a snap feature at a distal end of the bottom portion, the snap feature configured to engage a recess in the rear surface of the device housing.
20. The electrical connection system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of first mating features are non-articulating relative to the first rigid frame.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jan 29, 2016
Date of Patent: Jun 27, 2017
Patent Publication Number: 20160226185
Assignee: Lilitab LLC (San Rafael, CA)
Inventors: Bryan Rudolf Grziwok (Berkeley, CA), Adam Scott Aronson (San Rafael, CA)
Primary Examiner: Tulsidas C Patel
Assistant Examiner: Marcus Harcum
Application Number: 15/011,052
International Classification: H01R 13/627 (20060101); H01R 4/48 (20060101); H01R 13/24 (20060101); H01R 24/28 (20110101);